If you have type 1 diabetes, or you love someone who does, you know how volatile blood sugar can be. As a dietitian, and someone who falls into the latter category, I’ve learned there’s a difference between knowing what to do and figuring out what actually works in real time.
My boyfriend has had type 1 diabetes for years, and somewhere along the way, packing his bag became my job too. Here’s what we keep in it now, and why.
The “Rule of 15”Hypoglycemia (aka low blood sugar) is generally anything under 70 mg/dL, and when he’s there, we follow the rule of 15: 15 grams of carbohydrate, then wait 15 minutes and check again. Repeat if he’s still low. (Note: We use a glucometer to confirm the low and recheck when possible, since CGMs measure interstitial fluid and can lag behind blood glucose, especially when levels are changing quickly.) Once he’s back above 70, we look at how long it will be until his next meal. If it’s more than an hour away, he has something with protein and carbohydrate to help keep his blood sugar from dropping again in the interim. |
For the low itself
When treating a low, we want a simple, low-fiber carbohydrate that can be digested and absorbed quickly. Here are some things we keep on hand:
- Glucose tabs: Measured and predictable, with most tabs providing about 3.7 to 5 grams of carbohydrate each.
- Fruit snacks: We like Welch’s – one pack has about 17 grams of carbohydrate. They’re a good alternative when glucose tabs aren’t available or he just wants something that feels more like a snack than medicine.
- Juice: Helpful when his glucose is dropping quickly and he needs something he can drink rather than chew.
For after the low
Once his blood sugar is back above 70 mg/dL, if his next meal is more than an hour away, we give him a snack that combines a carbohydrate with protein or fat to help keep his blood sugar from dropping again. Some options include:
- Crackers and nut butter
- Cheerios and nuts
- Cheese stick and crackers
- Chomps meat stick and crackers
The supplies
None of this treats a low or a high on its own, but the bag isn’t much use without the basics:
- Glucagon: For lows that can’t be safely treated with food or drink
- A backup insulin pen
- A backup infusion set and CGM
- Alcohol swabs
- Glucometer and test strips
- Ketone strips: For prolonged hyperglycemia (aka high blood sugar)
- Battery pack to charge the pump and/or phone
- Cooler pack – we like this one from PackIt
The “why” behind what we pack
A lot of what we pack now came from experience, specifically from not having what we needed when we needed it.
Last weekend, we were at a baseball game when his blood sugar was high and wasn’t responding to correction insulin. He realized he needed a set change, but we didn’t have a backup insulin pen or ketone strips with us. By the time we got home, his blood sugar had been elevated for three to four hours, so checking for ketones was especially important. We changed the set and used the insulin pen for his correction dose.
Another day, we were out for a walk when his blood sugar started falling, and it fell quickly. We were still a few blocks from his apartment, and I knew the walking would only bring his blood sugar down further. Luckily, being in NYC meant there was always a coffee shop, convenience store, or corner deli not too far away. We ducked into the nearest Dunkin’, grabbed an orange juice, and followed the rule of 15 right there at the counter, waiting and rechecking until his number came back up.
Later that same day, we went out for another walk to get ice cream, this time actually ready. We’d stopped at the store beforehand for Cheerios and fruit snacks, and when his blood sugar went low again, the fruit snacks brought it right back up. Once he was back above 70 mg/dL, he could have his vanilla soft serve. The fat in the ice cream slowed down the absorption of the carbohydrate, so his blood sugar stayed more stable instead of shooting up and dropping back down.
If you’re building your own bag
You don’t have to build your bag exactly like ours. What matters most, particularly when it comes to food, is having something to treat a low and a carbohydrate paired with protein or fat for afterward when needed.
For help figuring out what works best for you and what to have in your diabetes bag, meet with an LCWN dietitian.
References
- American Diabetes Association. Managing Ketones with Diabetes . Diabetes.org. 2026. Accessed August 26, 2026. https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/managing-ketones
